Frenkie de Jong has liked a post on Instagram criticising Barcelona's treatment of him amid transfer interest from Manchester United.
De Jong is currently on a pre-season tour of the United States with the Blaugrana, jetting off days after United CEO Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough left the Catalan capital without a transfer confirmed after several days of trying to clinch a deal to sign the Dutchman.
An initial transfer fee has been agreed between the two clubs of £56.2million with reports claiming that the United chiefs visiting Barcelona last week led to an agreement on an overall package in the region of £72million. However, no deal has been concluded with the player.
United will not give up on a deal and will continue to push for the player for the remainder of the window with the belief that De Jong wants to join the club and be reunited with his former boss Erik ten Hag, who is driving the Red Devils' interest.
Barca are privately open to his departure despite their stance of insisting he is not for sale and the understanding from United is that a deal is being held up by outstanding payments owed to De Jong.
The Dutch international is one of the highest earners at the Camp Nou and, additionally, he is also owed a series of payments through amortizations and other clauses that are part of his deal.
De Jong has now indicated, for the first time, that he is openly unhappy about the way that Barcelona have treated him during the transfer saga. The midfielder has liked a post on Instagram from a user who wrote: "I dislike the way we have handled Frenkie's situation."
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The outstanding monies owed to De Jong come amid the club signing Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski in this summer transfer window as Xavi has rejuvenated his squad. While those moves have all been confirmed, the club will have to justify their financial situation to register them for the upcoming season in La Liga.
The Spanish league operates strict financial rules which all clubs must comply with and Barca must firstly reduce their current wage bill if they are to register their new quartet of signings. The sale of De Jong would go furthest to help justify the club's actions.
Yet the player is said not to have had any active role in the club's stance and Barcelona have not involved him in the decision-making process. It is a transfer saga which appears to have weeks, rather than days, remaining with Barca’s pre-season tour of the US due to last through until August.
